The moment Hermes’s words reached Zeus’s ears, a ripple of panic swept through the ranks of the army.
Tension tightened in the air and the soldiers who already armored and armed began moving with sharpness and more urgent purpose. The usual discipline now also filled with anxiety.
Zeus’s face hardened and his voice boomed across the plains. "Move! Double formation, prepare for immediate departure! No delays anymore!"
He then turned sharply toward Hermes. "You come with me."
Without waiting for a response, Zeus strode away from the ranks. Hermes followed.
When they were far enough that no soldier could hear, Zeus turned, eyes narrowed with intensity.
"What exactly happened?" he demanded. "Don’t give me riddles and speak clearly."
Hermes glanced back at the army, then faced Zeus with a grave expression.
"On my way to Susanoo’s domain... I felt it. A massive, cold, and wrong presence. Like something was very wrong is happening the very fabric of that domain."
Zeus’s eyes narrowed. "Is it the anomaly?"
Hermes nodded. "I think they are there. It’s not just a usual attack. They become more brutal now. I felt the kind of pressure you only feel in the presence when a god is dying."
Zeus clenched his fists. Lightning crackled faintly at his fingertips.
"Are you saying Susanoo is..."
"I don’t know for certain right now," Hermes cut in, "but it felt like death. And if that anomaly is more powerful than before, it’s either already consumed Susanoo’s domain when I was on the way there... or moved on to the next."
Zeus fell silent for a moment, the wind tugging at his hair and robes. Then he muttered, more to himself than to Hermes:. "First they struck Gabriel’s domain... and now Susanoo..."
Hermes’s eyes darkened. "We can’t treat this like a normal attack anymore. This is a purge. I think right now they really intending to kill us. They will be coming for us, one by one."
Zeus looked toward the horizon, his jaw tightening.
"I will begin the march now."
He turned back toward his army, thunder rumbling behind him as he raised his hand high.
"To war," he declared. "We move now!"
The skies themselves trembled at the command.
The soldiers immediately raised their spears in unison, their voices ringing out.
Their discipline snapped back into form but now it was sharpened by fear and urgency.
Zeus’s eyes scanned the ranks, burning with impatience.
"Those who haven’t finished preparations will be left behind," he barked. "This is no time to wait. If you can’t keep up, you will fall behind. But you can catch up later."
He raised his hand and with a surge of Celestial power he tore open a vast portal in front of them.
Crimson lightning laced its swirling edged portal revealing the scorched landscape beyond. It was the sight of Hell’s realm.
Without hesitation, Zeus stepped through.
One by one, three hundred of his most prepared and loyal soldiers followed and disappearing into the infernal rift behind their master.
Their destination was already decided. Days ago, Zeus had made a pact with Bael, one of Hell’s most powerful Demon King. They would gather in Bael’s domain first.
After the army stepped through the portal they emerged into a vast expanse of cracked black stone. Rivers of lava carved glowing red lines through the terrain and encircling the field. Heat shimmered in the air and sulfur clung to their lungs.
But the field was vast so that easily wide enough to hold Zeus’s elite force without issue.
Then, from above, a dark silhouette descended. It was Bael.
His wings appeared like torn banners of flame that flapped behind him as he descended from his obsidian castle.
His clawed feet struck the ground with a heavy thud. His flaming eyes narrowed as he approached Zeus.
"You came earlier than expected," Bael said in his deep, growling voice. "What happened?"
Zeus’s expression was hard, grim.
"Hermes brought news. Something is wrong in Susanoo’s domain. He felt a dark presence. It must be the anomaly. Maybe now they are powerful enough to kill a Celeatial."
Bael’s expression darkened. He didn’t ask further questions.
He turned his gaze to the red sky and raised one hand, summoning with his will.
From the burning horizon, a horde of Demons answered. They flew in formation, wings beating as they descended in rows.
Their presence struck the air like and make this Hell’s air more thick with dark aura.
Zeus’s soldiers flinched, many gripping their weapons tighter. They could feel that this wasn’t a parade. These Demons weren’t allies in the traditional sense. They were killers and predators. And for a moment some among Zeus’s soldiers wondered if they were about to be ambushed instead.
But Bael raised a hand, and his legion halted mid-air, hovering like a stormcloud held in place.
"Don’t worry. You all have my word. They’re here for the anomaly," Bael said flatly. "Not you."
Zeus nodded once, but his voice dropped into warning.
"See to it that your hounds remember that."
Bael smiled faintly, his fangs catching the red light of the lava. "They will."
And so, two armies stood side by side now.
Suddenly, Zeus’s eyes flicked upward, his expression tightening as a voice echoed directly into his mind.
"Zeus. Don’t we need to go there first and help Susanoo and the others?" Hermes’s voice echoed in his thoughts.
Zeus stood still for a moment, considering. The silence around him stretched as he weighed the truth.
"It may already be too late for Susanoo. But if there’s even a chance others are still alive wr need to help them."
"We can’t afford to lose any more higher beings. If they fall one by one, our chance to stand againts him will dwindling."
"You’re right," he finally replied through the link. "I will move to Susanoo’s domain immediately."
Zeus turned to Bael, his eyes sharp.
"We change course," he declared. "We’re heading to Susanoo’s domain first. If he’s already dead the others might still be alive. We can’t let more of our kind die before the real war even begins."
Bael’s burning eyes narrowed. "Very well. Just say the word and my army will follow."
Zeus nodded grimly. "Then prepare the portal. We go now."